Ethnic distribution of Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies in a Malaysian population and possible correlation with coronary heart disease

Abstract

Chlamydophila pneumoniae, an important respiratory pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections, has also been implicated in coronary heart disease (CHD). This study reports a cross-sectional, demographic, serological analysis of the prevalence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies in a multiracial Malaysian population. Generally, Malaysian Indians had the highest degree of seropositivity (58%) followed by the Chinese (54%) and the Malays (32%), results which were statistically significant (CI: 95%; p < 0.01). Interestingly, this trend was also reflected in the study group consisting of patients with acute myocardial infarctions (AMI) and chronic CHD. Again, the Indians were more frequently seropositive (65%), with more than 50% having IgG titres > or = 128. Comparatively, the Chinese and Malays showed 51 and 17% seropositivity respectively. These results were also statistically significant (CI: 95%; p < 0.01). Malaysian Indians are more commonly afflicted with CHD. A variety of factors have been suggested to explain this prevalence including diet, social habits, genetics and the possible role of infectious agents. This study notes an interesting association between this pattern of racial prevalence and the possible role of C. pneumoniae infections as a contributory/predisposing factor in the development of cardiovascular disease.

Occupational Disparities in the Association between Self-Reported Salt-Eating Habit and Hypertension in Older Adults in Xiamen, China

“…Numerous studies have shown the salt sensitivity is heterogeneous among different populations [ 20 , 21 ]. While most research on hypertension has focused on some non-modifiable factors, such as sex [ 32 ], genes [ 33 , 34 ], and race [ 35 , 36 ], involvement of occupational disparities in the association between dietary salt intake and hypertension has been poorly investigated. Different OR patterns among occupations may reflect the importance of occupational mediation.…”

A Study of Public Health Awareness among the Elderly in an Industrially Developing Country

“…The mortality rate for CHD was more than doubled between 1965 and 1991, from 24.6 per 100 000-57.2. Naidu et al (2003) in their research found that Malaysian Indians were more commonly afflicted with CHD. While Indians had been showing the highest CHD mortality rate so far, the rate among the Malays had been increasing most rapidly since 1970, concomitant with the latter's increase in their proportion of the urban population in peninsular Malaysia.…”

Associations of serologic markers of infection and inflammation with vascular disease events and mortality in American dialysis patients

“…15,16 Our work also demonstrates variation in seroprevalences according to race in United States dialysis patients. Further, the prevalence of some types of detected AVD events was lower among non-white patients than in Caucasians at enrollment, perhaps reflecting differential access to care or reporting biases prior to or early in ESRD, but race did not predict outcomes over observation.…”

“…Because the prevalence of C. pneumoniae and H. pylori exposure varies by geography and race, 15,16 we hypothesized that associations of chronic bacterial infections with atherosclerotic vascular disease and mortality may be quantitatively and/or qualitatively distinct among dialysis patients in the United States. We thus performed a cross-sectional and prospective study of a multiracial cohort of hemodialysis patients in northern California.…”